Filter assembly having tapered housing and inlet tube



United States Patent Inventors Dominick Glglottl FILTER ASSEMBLY HAVING TAPERED HOUSING AND INLET TUBE 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl. 801d 25/26 Field ofSearch 210/137,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,676,268 7/1928 Lipscomb 2l0/438X Primary Examiner-Reuben Friedman Assistant Examiner-Frank A. Spear, Jr. Attorney--l-loward P. West, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A polymer filter having an inlet and outlet, the inlet being in communication with a feed passage separated from a collector passage by a filter means. The collector passage is in communication with the outlet. The feed passage diminishes in size while the collector passage increases in size in the direction of flow with the total cross-sectional area of the passages being substantially the same at any location along the filter axis. The filter means preferably is a series of stacked filter elements. The particular structural relationship between the feed and collector passages allows all the polymer to flow through the filter elements in an essentially equivalent path at v an essentially equivalent rate.

Patented Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet 1 of 2 FIG.

INVENTORS DOMINICK GIGLIOTTI TDREXEL KERMIT SMlTH Patented Oct. 27, 1970 3,536,200

Sheet 2 of 2 FIG. 4 14 INVENTORS DOMINICK GIGLIOTTI DREXEL KERMIT SMITH BY MHa/uI t.

ATTORNEY FILTER ASSEMBLY HAVING TAPERED HOUSING AND INLET TUBE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for filtering molten polymeric material. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a novel device for uniform treatment of polymer during a filtration step.

During the manufacture of shaped structures from synthetic polymers, such as polyamides and polyesters, it is customary to filter molten polymer to remove particulate matter and nonhomogeneities caused by thermal degradation of the macromolecules. Preferably, the length of time the polymer is retained in the filter will be kept to a minimum and the polymer will flow through the filter in a streamlined and uniform manner.

For effective and efficient filtration it will be desirable to use a filter having a pluralityof filter elements. Uniformity of the filtered product requires that the molten polymer be fed to, filtered in and removed from the individual filter elements in an essentially equivalent manner. Filtering devices of the prior art do not lead to the desired treatment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides for filtering molten polymer by feeding the polymer through a filter along passages having a particular structural relationship with the filter to allow all of the polymer to flow through the filter in an essentially equivalent path at an essentially equivalent rate. This is accomplished in an apparatus that comprises a container open at one end and closed at the other end to form an elongated chamber within the container. The chamber gradually increases in cross-sectional area throughout its length from the open to the closed end. A removable cover with inlet and outlet passages therein is attached to the open end of the container. A hollow tube is attached to the cover and projects coaxially into the chamber. The tube is in communication with the inlet in the cover and has an outside diameter that increases along its projected length. A means for filtering liquid coaxial with, spaced from and supported by the tube is positioned in the chamber. The tube and the filter divide the chamber into a feed passage in communication with the inlet through the hollow tube and a collector passage in communication with the outlet. The feed and collector passages have an inverse cross-sectional area relationship and the sum of the cross-sectional areas of these passages is substantially the same at any common point along their length. The filter means is arranged as a series of stacked individual filter elements. All of the polymer flowing through the individual filter elements will follow an essentially equivalent path and will travel at an essentially equivalent rate and, therefore, all portions of polymer passing through the filter will have experienced the same holdup time regardless of the point of entry into the stack of filter elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1, is a sectioned elevation of a generally cylindrical filtering apparatus illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial schematic sectioned view of one form of the filter means;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partially in section of another form of an element of the filter assembly;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the screen assembly of the filter element shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus of this invention generally includes a filter pot 5 provided with a removable cover 3,'a filter means 12 positioned within pot 5 and a tube 7 attached at one end to cover 3 with a support 9 threaded to the other end of tube 7. Cover 3 has an inlet passage 1 in communication with tube 7 and an outlet passage 11 in communication with cavity 14 aroundtube 7 at its upper end in cover3. Delivery tube 7 increases in outside diameter along its projected length and the outside surface 7' of tube 7 along with the inside surface 8 of filter means 12, defines collector passage 4. The inside diameter of filter pot 5 increases in a gradual taper from the top to the section corresponding tothe flat surface of support 9 for the filter means. The inside tapered surface 5 of filter pot 5, in conjunction with the outside surface 12' of filter means 12, defines feed passage 2.

i From the bottom of the tapered section5', the inside of filter' pot 5 is rounded, and with the roundedsurface of support' 9- defines connecting passage 10 between delivery tube 7 and In FIG. 2, filter means 12 is illustrated in the formof an as- I sembly of screens. Alternatively, the filter means 12 may utilize a sintered metal disc in place of one or more of the screens. The filter means 12 is in the shape of a cylinder with a bore through its center and, accordingly, a cross-sectional view along a diameter will consist of two separate halves, of which, for convenience, only one is shown. The actual filtration medium or elements comprise a stack of about 15 layers of 325 X 325 mesh fine stainless steel wire screens 21, 21'. The stack is maintained as an integral unit by an inner screenholder 17 and an outer screenholder 19. On the high pressure side of screens 21, there is a spacer 13 of coarse 4 X 4 mesh screen. The screen is constrained at the inner diameter by a closed clamp 15 and at the outer diameter by spacer rings 16. The outer diameter of spacer 13 is open to permit entry of unfiltered material. On the downstream side of screens 21, a backup spacer 23 is provided which is composed of several layers of coarse 10 X '10 mesh screens. These screens are clamped together at the outer diameterby a holder 25 with the inner diameter left open between spacer rings 26 to permit the filtered material to pass into a collection passageway (not shown). The spacer screens on the downstream side of the screens 21 are considerably finer than those in spacer I3. The slightly finer mesh provides structural support for the screens 21 and, thus prevents excessive buckling under the high operating pressure. The mesh however is sufficiently coarse so not to interfere with the fiow of the filtered material. The path of polymer flow is indicated by arrows A.

An alternate arrangement for the embodiment represented by FIG. 2 is the filter assembly and feed plate shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Referring to FIG. 3, each filter assembly contains a collector disk 70 which is an essentially flat waferlike member modified to contain radial grooves such as 71 and 71' for conveying thefiltered polymers from the screens to the collector passageway 4. Grooves 71, 71'- blend into the flat portion of disk 70 at the outer diameter and continuously incre'asein depth to a maximum at the inner diameter. Each disk 70 is constructed from stainless steel stock sheet with 72 radial grooves press formed so that there are 36 to a side. Each side 1 of disk 70 is faced with a relatively coarse, stainless steel support screen 72 and 72' which supports sets of fine screens 73. Support screens 72 and 72' are relatively rigid elements that protect the fine screens from distorting and collapsing into the grooves under operating conditions. There are 15 screens in each set of fine screens 73. Each screen is made from 0.0014 inch (0.0035 centimeter) diameter stainless steel wire woven into a 325 X 325 mesh. It is to be noted that the number of screens in each set may be altered as desired. In the preferred embodiment, 15 layers are used to insure that the polymeric material is subjected to sufficient shear. This treatment is believed to improve the uniformity of the material. Protective screens 74 are made from 0.009 inch (0.023 centimeter) diameter stainless steel wire woven into a 50 X 50 mesh and serve to shield the, fine screens from large particles ofimpuri ties on the'high pressure side of the filtration assembly. The screens are constrained in a large clamping collar75 at their outerdiameter andsre secured in two groups by pinch collars 1 76 and,76" at the inner, diameter. The outer periphery of-the adjacent collars 75-.

screensand the collector disk are pressed together tightly within clamping collar 75 and formafiuid-tight seallTo-improve thefeffectiveness of theses], therelatively coarse supportscreens 72 and 72' terminate short of collar 75 and abut with solid spacer rings 77 and 77'.These ringsare made of a soft metal such as aluminum and 'act as gaskets that deform q under the high pressing force imposed on thecollar75 during assemblyjln the stackedcondition, a specially designed feed plate 78 is employed tobalance out the height difference between the inside and outside of the assemblyJieed plate 178 is a flatannular disk-shaped member equal in thickness tothe height difference between the outer and inner diameters of the 'filter assemblyiln the preferred embodiment, this amounts to about twice the gauge thickness of a pinch collar. The outer periphery of feed plate 78 is modified at regularintervals by input apertures 79through which polymer isintroduced from passage-2 (FIG. 1) into the screens74 and 74'. In the assembled conditiomthe feed plate abuts with the edgesof the pinch collars at the inner diameter In operation of theapparatus (FIG; 1) molten polymer is pumped, uncler pressure, to polymer inlet, 1 andapassed through delivery tube 7 to the bottom of the filter pot. As the polymer moves along feed passageway 2, portions of the moltenmass pass through" filter means 12. As a consequence of the diminishing size, of feed passageZ, the polymer'flow is maintained at a relatively uniform rate since the-size of, the

side, and ls interposed between passage is related to the fraction of the filter means to be supplied with polymer. After the polymerpasses through the filter means, it enters tapered passagey4 which increases in size in relation to the amount of polymer entering thepassageway and, again, uniformity of flow is maintained. Further, since the total feed and collector passage cross-sectional area along any plane perpendicular to the axis of the filter is constant the diminishing size of the feed passage 2 is accompanied by an essentially equivalent increase insize of the collector passage 4 and thiscondition is also needed for uniformity of polymer flowuWhen optimum results are required, the nonfilter walls of passages 2 and 4 will have a parabolic curvature and be in a diverging relationship (in 'the direction of polymer flow. V

Becauseof the difficulty in forming walls havinga parabolic curvature, it may be desirable. to use straight-walled passageways. wherein the nonfilter walls are in a diverging relationship in the'direction of polymer fiow and filters having straight-walledpassageways have been found to provide a usetul result. Transfer cavity 14 serves to funnel" the flowing shape with the largestdiameter at its entrance;

The filter means 12 may utilize any of the filterniedia known to the art of polymer filtration that can be utilized as a series of like elements. Thus, it 'maycomprise sintered or porousmetal, ora metal plate containing drilled or etched holes. ,The filter media may comprise layers of sandof polymer to'outlet ll.-,Transfer cavity 14 may be conelike in g decreasing grain size or stacks of screenshaving an increasing finemesh or both Screens-are an especially preferred filter media,

The components of the device may; be fabricated from cor-' 'rosion-resistant metal such as stainless steel, and the device will preferably be supplied with a heating jacket and ap-,. propriate rings and brackets to facilitate handling and mounting.

1. A liquidfiltering apparatus comprising: 1 asa sealed container having in'let: means, an outlet at one end andan elongated chamber generated about a central,

axis therein, said chamber increasing .in cross-sectional. area from said one end to form a tapered inner surface,

said inlet means-projectin coaxially into saidchamben said mletmeans being tubu arm form and having an out-a side diameter that gradually increases along its projected length; and a r Y b. means for filtering.liquidpositioned in said chamber,

between said inlet means andssid tapered inner surface,

said filtering means andsaid iinletmeans separating said chamber into feed and collector passagesaxially oriented in said chamber and in communication with, said inlet means and sald outletmeans respectively, the, sum of the cross-sectional areas of said feed and collector passages being substantially the same at'all points along their length.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 said filtering means comprising a plurality of layers of filter media, said layers being oriented in a plane perpendicular to'the central axis of the chamber. 3. A liquid filtering apparatus comprising:

a. container saidcontainer being open at one end and d.'a means for filtering liquid positioned in said chamber] around said tube, said means being coaxial with and spaced from said tubesubstantially throughout its length,

said means and-said'tube dividing said chamber into a feed passage; in communication1with said inlet through, said hollow tube and a collector passage in communica- -tion with said outlet, said passages having an inverse cross-sectional area relationship and the sum of the cross sectional areas of the feed andcollector passages being substantially the same atany common point along their length.

.4. The apparatus of claim 3, said filtering means comprising a plurality of separated layers of screens, said layers being aligned in planes substantially perpendicular to thecentral axis of the chamber. 

